The Lease You Never Got to Negotiate
How the executive right holder in Texas can sign the mineral lease, keep the bonus, and drag you along for the ride.
Read Article → INSIGHTS & GUIDES
Articles: Legal
94 articles in this topic
The State Is Your Secret Mineral Partner
Why your 'private' West Texas minerals might actually belong to the State—and what the Relinquishment Act means for your family's land.
Read Article →
The 500% Penalty Prairie — How Nebraska Can Force-Pool You and Hold Back Your Share Until the Well Pays Out at 5x
Nebraska's forced pooling laws carry a massive 500% risk penalty for unleased mineral owners. Here is how the math actually works.
Read Article →
The 3/16 Safety Valve: Alabama’s Weird Forced-Pooling Math
Alabama has a unique forced-pooling law. If you say no, the operator can hit you with a 150% penalty—but they still have to pay you a 3/16 royalty.
Read Article →
“The Bond-On Threat” — How Utah Lets an Operator Drill Anyway After ‘Good Faith’ Talks Fail
Utah’s Surface Owner Protection Act sounds protective. But when push comes to shove, an operator can post a $6,000 bond and drill on your land anyway.
Read Article →
“The One-Eighth Fakeout” — How Pennsylvania’s ‘Guaranteed Minimum Royalty’ Still Lets Owners Get Squeezed
Pennsylvania law guarantees a 12.5% minimum royalty. We explain how legal loopholes and the net-back method legally shrink that number.
Read Article →
The Duhig Guillotine: How One Bad Deed Can Delete Your Mineral Rights
A quirky Texas title rule can automatically erase the minerals you thought your family reserved decades ago. Here is how the math works.
Read Article →
“The 30-Day Trigger Letter” — How One Certified Demand Can Double Your Royalties in Louisiana
When Louisiana operators stop paying royalties, phone calls won't fix it. Learn how a specific written demand unlocks double damages and forces their hand.
Read Article →
“Your Check Stub Is a Crime Scene” — North Dakota Makes Bad Royalty Statements a Class B Misdemeanor
North Dakota law gives mineral owners powerful tools to fight bad check stubs, including criminal penalties, audit rights, and high interest rates.
Read Article →
The Storage Field You Never Leased: Illinois Gas Storage Condemnation
How the Illinois Gas Storage Act allows companies to forcefully turn your family's subsurface into a natural gas storage facility.
Read Article →
The 120/60/90-Day Clock: How Montana Turns Late Royalty Checks Into High-Interest Debt
Montana law doesn't just ask operators to pay royalties on time. It sets strict deadlines, imposes heavy interest, and demands line-item check stubs.
Read Article →
The Zombie Field Next Door: How Kern County’s Idle Wells Turn Royalties Into Liabilities
Kern County operators are caught between massive idle well fees and drilling bans. Here is how their financial crisis impacts your mineral rights.
Read Article →